Tamper-proof cover for pressurized containers for dispensing liquids and powders



May 7, 1963 B. J. STEINKAMP 3,088,635

TAMPER-PROOF COVER FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS AND POWDERS Filed Oct. 16, 1961 INVENTOR BERNARD J. STE/NKAMP BY Wm ATTORNEY United States Patent TAMPER-PROF COVER FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS FUR DISPENSING LIQUIDS AND POWDERS Bernard J. Steinkarnp, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Eastern Cap and Closure Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,125 Claims. (Cl. 222182) This invention relates to an improvement in protective cover or cap for containers of the type employed for dispensing liquids, powders, and the like by gas, retained under pressure, wherein the cover is tamper-proof. Such containers with their valve structures are frequently referred to as aerosol type dispensing containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective cover or cap for pressurized dispensing containers, which cover is relatively diificult to remove from the container the first time, and even the first several times.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a protective cover or cap for pressurized dispensing containers, which can be readily pried oil of such containers by suitable, yet simple mechanical instrument, but will otherwise remain firmly in place in position on the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cover for a pressurized dispensing container that is purposely quite difiicult to remove, thereby preventing tampering with the assembly, the loss of said covers, or switching of them to the wrong containers, etc. in stores, on the part of curious individuals or well-intentioned, prospective purchases of the products held by the said containers. Also, because my cover is quite difiicult to remove by children or juveniles, it will tend to decrease accidental injuries to them through inhaling the vaporized material from the containers or by the spray contacting their eyes. By being purposely difficult to remove, this will prevent the replacement of the protective covers by shoppers upon the wrong pressurized containers; this act has been troublesome, where paints of various colors are being sold in the retail trade in aerosol type dispensing containers.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide novel cover or cap for aerosol type containers that can ge formed from metal by inexpensive operations, and by one step, namely .a stamping operation, upon the conventional standard cap or cover for such dispensing containers currently employed in the trade.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for aerosol type containers, which cover because it is relatively difiicult to remove the first few times from the said container, will prevent the discharge of some of the contents of said container by customers in the store. Damage or detracting from the appearance of the upper part of the container sometimes results from escaping spray.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for pressurized dispensing containers that has a series of spaced studs protruding from the inside of said cover, to engage the lower circular edge of the downwardly projecting side wall of the valve cup, and the said cover also having a series of convex sections whereby an instrument can be inserted to pry up the said cover from the container; the force disengages the studs from the contact below or beneath the lower edge of the side wall of the covers valve cup.

The above and other advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a container bearing a removable closure embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the protective cover in assembled relation with a conventional pressurized dispensing container, taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the protective cover of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a view to larger scale, looking down into the interior of the protective cover.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view, enlarged, taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, a lowpressure metal container 1, formed at its upper end into a reduced neck portion 2 terminates in a dispensing valve unit. There is, as part of this mentioned valve unit, annular top 3; the top 3 is swaged radially outwardly within the said neck. The top 3 is formed by blanking sheet metal and forming around its edge an .annular rim 4 terminating in a downwardly-presented peripheral side wall 5; the annular rim is sometimes termed a neck ring also. The circular raw edge of this side wall 5 bears the numeral 6. At the center of the annular top 3 of the valve, there is provided along a vertical axis a discharge valve designated by the numeral 7. The parts, other than the discharge valve are often referred to as the valve cup.

Pressure containers of this type are conventional and do not form a part of my invention. Such containers are of a simple variety .and are customarily employed for dispensing liquids, powders and the like by gas under pressure.

While I have illustrated a particular dispensing valve unit 8 associated with the container 1, it will be understood that other forms of such valve cup unit that have the downwardly projected side wall terminating in .a circular edge may be employed.

As shown in detail in the figures of the drawing, the protective cover or cap of my invention comprises a circular top portion 10 having a downwardly extending cylindrical skirt 11. The circular top is usually paneled as shown, but may be entirely flat, domed-shaped, part domed, or could be slightly concave in fact; it would have to clear the top part of the spray unit on the container naturally. The skirt 11 is integral with the top portion, and extends vertically downwardly. The bottom edge of the skirt is formed into a straight curl or bead (rolled edge) 12. Into the bottom rolled edge 12 which is circular, there has been formed a plurality, preferably three (3) in total number of pairs, of studs, bearing the numeral 13 in the drawing. The magnification in FIG- URES 4 and 5 clearly shows the inwardly protruding projections. It has been determined that three pairs of these studs are best, i.e. secure the cover or cap to the container more securely; two pairs are the least satisfactory. These stud pairs can be formed in the bottom straight curl or bead by the use of a die. The pairs of studs are formed by a double pointed chisel-shaped tool after the bottom curl or bead has been produced. From other figures of the drawing, such as FIGS. 1 and 5, there can be perceived three sections 14 in the circular bottom rolled edge 12, which are covex with reference to the said rolled edge 12 when viewed by a reader in FIGURES 1 and 3. Each pair of studs is located at the highest portion of the said covex region.

When the protective cover or cap 9 is pressed down manually after it has been centered over the dispensing valve unit 8, each pair of these studs 13 rides over and snaps under the raw edge 6 of the downwardly presented peripheral side wall 5. Thus, the protective cover 9 is held very firmly to the container by friction fit of the inside of the cover with the peripheral side wall of the valve unit, and also by the studs 13 engaging tightly beneath the raw edge 6 of the peripheral side wall 5 on the con- 3 tainer. From FIG. 1, it can be seen that there is a space 15 between the bottom rolled edge 12 at each convex section and the top end of the reduced neck portion 2, bearing the numeral 16. The plurality of convex sections, numbered 14 in the drawing, are approximately equally spaced. In the present invention, there is a different type of cooperation between the protective cover and dispensing container than is obtained in friction fits found on some systems of protective covers with pressurized dispensing containers or with the cover and open top container used for paste shoe polish, or with units holding baking powder.

As mentioned previously three pairs of studs at regularly spaced intervals on the rolled edge of the protective cover of the present invention gives the maximum benefit. Three pairs have been determined to be better practically. Four, live, or even six regularly spaced pairs of these studs make the cover even tighter.

With the exception of the aforesaid mentioned convex sections 14, the circumferentially rolled edge of the protective cover rests upon the substantially semi-fiat circular area 16 shown in the drawing on the neck beneath the curl 12. Any of the convex sections 14 afford the means whereby the protective cover can be removed from the pressurized dispensing container 1. When it is desired to remove the protective cover or cap 9 from the pressurized dispensing container 1, the operating end of a screw-driver, or the rounded end of a small bottle-opener, or the handle end of a spoon, or various other suitable, small, simple-in-construction mechanical devices can be inserted under any one of the convex sections 14; and by twisting the screw driver or using the lever action of the bottle opener or spoon, utilizing surface 16 of the neck as the locus for the fulcrum, the cover 9 will be dislodged.

When the valve unit 8 with its downwardly-presented peripheral side wall is new, hence the edge 6 is raw (not smooth), the spaced pairs of studs 13 not only engage but very firmly grip beneath the said raw edge 6. It is practically impossible for the average person to disengage the protective cover from the pressurized dispensing container 1 by holding the latter with one hand and pulling up on the cover with the other hand. After the said cover has been mechanically disengaged, as explained supra, several times, there results wearing action on both the cooperating raw edge and the studs; and as a result, the cover can thereafter be removed by the two hands alone of many individuals. This is, furthermore an advantage because after the purchase and away from the retail store, ready access to the spray valve unit is rather desirable.

The dispensing container 1 and substantially all of its parts are made of metal to withstand pressure, conventionally. The cover of my invention is made of metal.

The protective cover of the present invention has many advantages. There exists a definite need for a protective cap or cover fitting pressurized dispensing containers that can not be removed easily by a persons two hands alone on the part of shoppers, whether customers or the curious observers. There is something enticing to most individuals about spraying from such containers. The store owners or managers of pain stores have encountered trouble due to people (shoppers) coming into their stores, :removing caps or covers from the particular assembly with pressurized dispensing containers, and thereupon spraying paint or placing said covers upon the wrong containers, or even losing the caps. In the case of paints, this difficulty is magnified because the color thereof itself is usually designated by the color on the exterior of the top of the cover. When the prospective customer or curious minded individual re-places such covers on the wrong containers, i.e. containers holding paint of another color, it can be seen how serious the situation can become in the trade. There are very many colors and shades oifered in paints in aerosol containers in the retail trade.

Furthermore, some of the liquids in the pressurized dispensing containers are somewhat toxic, particularly in the limited, somewhat static air space of a store. And there is perhaps an even greater danger to juveniles because of possible contact of the fluid in the containers with their eyes. And also, the top of the dispensing container may become fouled by released fluid.

It is a simple matter for the store-keeper or his employees to furnish the buyer with a small opener, or even pry the cover from an aerosol container, and show how to operate the dispensing valve unit, and thus hoW to spray. Because of the added difficulty that the use of my protective cover entails to gain access to the spraying unit of the container, the shoppers and the curious minded individuals will not go to the extra trouble to pry oif the caps from the aerosol containers, i.e. in the stores. The use of my simple, economically produced, protective cover, above described in detail, eliminates such troubles in the retail trade as listed supra.

Furthermore, a purchaser familiar with its firm resistance to manual removal is assured by the feel of such positive retention that the cover has not theretofore been removed from the aerosol container. It will take a prying action under one of the convex areas to un-seat the cover from the container, where the lower edge of the downwardly projecting side wall of the valve unit is raw and the series of stud pairs that grip underneath the said raw edge are each un-used. It is an assurance to the purchaser of the assembly spray unit.

While I have described and illustrated one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that modifications and variations of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use with a cylindrical container having a reduced neck portion terminating in a discharge valve unit, the valve cup of which has an annular rim terminating in a downwardly-presented peripheral side wall having a circular raw edge, a metallic protective cover for removable securement to said cylindrical container, comprising a circular top, a cylindrical skirt element integral therewith and extending substantially vertically downwardly from the outer'edge of said top, said skirt terminating in a circular outwardly rolled edge, there being a plurality of convex sections approximately equally spaced in said rolled edge, positioned at the highest portion of each convex section there is a pair of inwardly protruding studs, the said studs functioning to engage and snap under the raw edge of said downwardly-presented peripheral side wall of the valve cup, and the terminal end of the cylindrical skirt element frictionally engaging the downwardly presented side wall of the valve cup of the container thereby firmly holding the said protective cover to the said container, there being sufiicient space between each convex section of the rolled edge and the neck of the container for the insertion of a device to pry the cover from the container.

2. The protective cover as set out in claim 1, wherein the pairs of inwardly protruding studs are of the same piece of metal as the metallic protective cover of the container.

3. The protective cover as set out in claim 1, wherein the protective cover has a substantially fiat top.

4. For use with a cylindrical container having a reduced neck portion terminating in a discharge valve unit, the valve cup of which has an annular rim terminating in a downwardly-presented peripheral side wall having a circular raw edge, a metallic protective cover for removable securement to said cylindrical container, comprising a circular top, a cylindrical skirt integral therewith and extending substantially vertically downwardly from the outer edge of said top, said skint element terminating in a circular outwardly rolled edge, there'being three substantially equally circumferentially spaced, convex sections in said rolled edge, positioned at the highest portion of each convex section there is a pair of inwardly protruding studs, the said studs functioning to engage and snap under the raw edge of the said downwardly-presented peripheral side wall of the valve cup, and the terminal end of the cylindrical skirt element frictionally engaging the downwardly-presented side wall of the valve cup of the container thereby cfirmly holding the said protective cover to the said container, there being sufficient space between each of the aforesaid convex sections of the rolled edge and the neck of the container for the insertion of a device to pry the cover from the container.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,805 Stewart Mar. 1, 1938 2,326,809 White Aug. 17, 1943 2,403,511 Enkur July 9, 1946 2,765,960 Sofier et al. Oct. 9, 1956 

1. FOR USE WITH A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HAVING A REDUCED NECK PORTION TERMINATING IN A DISCHARGE VALVE UNIT, THE VALVE CUP OF WHICH HAS AN ANNULAR RIM TERMINATING IN A DOWNWARDLY-PRESENTED PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL HAVING A CIRCULAR RAW EDGE, A METALLIC PROTECTIVE COVER FOR REMOVABLE SECUREMENT TO SAID CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER, COMPRISING A CIRCULAR TOP, A CYLINDRICAL SKIRT ELEMENT INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID TOP, SAID SKIRT TERMINATING IN A CIRCULAR OUTWARDLY ROLLED EDGE, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF CONVEX SECTIONS APPROXIMATELY EQUALLY SPACED IN SAID ROLLED EDGE, POSITIONED AT THE HIGHEST PORTION OF EACH CONVEX SECTION THERE IS A PAIR OF INWARDLY PROTRUDING STUDS, THE SAID STUDS FUNCTIONING TO ENGAGE AND SNAP UNDER THE RAW EDGE OF SAID DOWNWARDLY-PRESENTED PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL OF THE VALVE CUP, AND THE TERMINAL END OF THE CYLINDRICAL SKIRT ELEMENT FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE DOWNWARDLY PRESENTED SIDE WALL OF THE VALVE CUP OF THE CONTAINER THEREBY FIRMLY HOLDING THE SAID PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE SAID CONTAINER, THERE BEING SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN EACH CONVEX SECTION OF THE ROLLED EDGE AND THE NECK OF THE CONTAINER FOR THE INSERTION OF A DEVICE TO PRY THE COVER FROM THE CONTAINER. 